Bare sole

While at the beach this week, we saw quite a few preschool aged children. Some out with parents , others with Grandparents. And others, well sadly for this child, it was difficult to tell who she was with.

At first, we just thought she was with this young family. I wasn't really paying attention. I just thought she made a cute photo in her bright pink sweater and bare feet. Although the air was mild and sunny, reaching 12c, the water and wet sand were still cold enough to make bare feet ache in a few seconds. But when she turned and began walking back along the beach, the family I had assumed she was with, didn't join her or react.

It became apparent at this point that she had wandered away from her family. She was looking around in an obvious effort to spot her people. She seemed calm and unconcerned. She passed us and about a 100 yards further, came up onto the grass where she eventually approached an older woman, perhaps her Grandmother, who looked frantic as she pushed a stroller with a small boy sat in it. Grandma was so upset that she began shouting at the top of her lungs telling her off for not staying near by. All the little girl said was "I came back to get my shoes".
This beach is between a busy train track and an ocean, not the safest place for such a small child to run freely. Not to mention all the people, you just never know when there are perverts and weirdos around! No wonder the Grandma was beside herself. She could hardly chase after her on the sand with a baby in the stroller. This little girl seemed quite taken back by her grandmas upset state. They just don't realize how easily they can come into trouble. Having had a couple of panic attacks when my own little ones wandered off briefly, I can certainly relate to Grandmas consternation! They were probably only separated for 15 minutes at the most. But we all know how quickly things can happen, and it must have seemed like an eternity to her Grandma.
Have your little ones ever given you this kind of fright?